One-Of-A-Kind Bike

Kids And Cancer Benefit Run Unveils Custom Harley

April 7, 2013

FALCONER - For the eighth time in as many years, the Kids and Cancer Benefit Run organization will be giving away a brand new Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

On Saturday, Kids and Cancer unveiled its custom-painted 2013 Dyna Switchback at Harley-Davidson of Jamestown for its annual Harley of Hope event.

The bike, which was covered with black fabric, had its big reveal at noon. Several children and families who have received assistance from Kids and Cancer were on hand to make the official unveiling, including: Jayce Balestrieri, an 8-year-old who is in remission from leukemia; Angela and Sarah Potter, sisters who have both been diagnosed with different forms of cancer; and Stan and Sarah Gleason, whose 1-year-old son, Evan, was born with a digestive disorder.

Article Photos

Area children and families who have received assistance from Kids and Cancer Benefit Run unveil a new custom-painted 2013 Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback at Harley-Davidson of Jamestown. Pictured from left: Angela and Sarah Hooper, sisters; Stan and Sarah Gleason, with their children Maddy and Evan; and Jayce Balestrieri.P-J photo by Gavin Paterniti

Chris Maida, of CMDesignz, was responsible for the paint job-which had been seen only by him prior to the unveiling. A press release from Kids and Cancer said that precautions had been taken by Harley-Davidson of Jamestown to ensure that the paint job would not be glimpsed before the appropriate time.

"This is our eighth bike that we will have given away, and we try to go after a custom paint (job) every year," said Dave Geitner, president of Kids and Cancer Benefit Run. "We have normally unveiled this at the outdoor show in Bradford every year, but they canceled that because they didn't have the facilities. And because Jamestown has been so supportive of what we're doing, we thought that it would be a good draw for them; along with trying to get a few people up here as far as the recipients that we've donated to in the past."

The Dyna Switchback, which was purchased from Harley-Davidson of Jamestown, will be given away at the 16th annual Kids and Cancer Benefit Run. Tickets to win the bike can be purchased at $20 apiece, or $100 for six. The runner-up will receive two tickets to the NASCAR Nationwide Series' Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen, as well as $250. The second runner-up will receive a $250 Harley-Davidson of Jamestown gift card. This year's benefit run will take place on July 20, starting at noon, in Bradford.

Since the inaugural Kids and Cancer Run in 1998, the committee has been able to donate more than $200,000 to individuals, medical facilities, cancer-related organizations and various service clubs that benefit children and their families by selling tickets for the Harley of Hope giveaway.

Each year, ticket buyers have a chance to win a current model year Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The C-K H.O.G. Chapter was able to sell 200 tickets during the 2012 riding season, raising $3,000 for the benefit. The chapter has pledged to donate the money it receives back from ticket sales to individuals in need within the local community. That sum from the 2012 ticket sales amounted to $1,000.

"We're asking everybody to come out and be a part of it," said Geitner. "And we try to generate some money to be able to help some of these kids out because that's what it's all about."